The 110th Cultra Hillclimb kicks off today in leafy North Down and to celebrate the unusual competition we have compiled 110 facts about it.

Cars of all shapes, sizes and ages will be racing from the bottom to the top of the hill in the Folk and Transport Museum in the fastest time possible.

The Cultra course is 640m long and very bendy with no straight longer than 45m.

And while there’s a strict 15mph limit in the grounds of Cultra Manor, one driver clocked up 85mph.

The practice runs start at 9.30am so hold onto your hat...

1. The Cultra Hillclimb was established on May 6, 1905.

2. It happened during the Royal North of Ireland’s motor meet on the estate of Sir Robert Kennedy.

3. The Kennedy Estate grounds are now the Cultra Manor sits at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

4. Mr R E Workman was the first Cultra Hillclimb winner.

5. The event stopped running in 1929 and moved from Cultra in 1930, becoming the Croft Hillclimb.

6. The Croft Hillclimb still runs as Cultra’s neighbour.

7. In the late 90s Thoroughbred Sports Car Club president, William Heaney was inspired to revive the Cultra Hillclimb while navigating at vintage races and retros with Mark Kennedy, Curator at National Museums Northern Ireland.

8. This revival ran from 2000 to 2005.

9. After major infrastructure work at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, it was revived for a second time in 2010 and continues today, making it the world’s oldest active hillclimb.

10. A “hillclimb” is when drivers compete in cars of all shapes and sizes, speeding from the bottom to the top of the hill in the fastest time possible.

11. The Cultra course is 640m long.

12. No straight is longer than 45m.

13. The highest speed a driver has hit at Cultra was recorded as 85mph.

14. Some drivers have been known to hit 130mph at other speed hillclimb competitions.

15. There is actually a strict 15mph speed limit on the grounds of Cultra Manor.

16. Speeding drivers are disqualified.

17. Every year a theme links the competitive nature of the event with the rich history of the museum.

18. Competitors drive in two practice runs and three official timed runs.

19. The fastest time going towards their overall score in their class.

20. Practice runs start between 9.30am and 10am.

21. The main competition starts at noon.

22. There are 10 classes in the 2015 event, ranging from Vintage and Post-Vintage, to single-seat racing cars.

23. This year there are 110 competitors to celebrate 110 years of the event.

24. Every year, competitors dash to enter and there is always a waiting list.

25. This year was oversubscribed despite the additional 10 places offered to reflect the anniversary.

26. The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum has provided extra paddock spaces for the extra competitors.

27. Around 3,000 visitors come through the gates of the museum each year for Hillclimb day.

28. Every year, there is a theme that celebrates motoring history in Northern Ireland.

29. This year’s theme is Road to Recovery – an ode to the restored wonders of the race tracks.

30. Previous themes include Women In Motorsport and Minis, Mods And Monsters.

31. Around half of the competing cars reflect the Road To Recovery theme having undergone various projects of recovery to return them to active competition.

32. A number of rescue and recovery vehicles spanning across the past 100 years will be displayed.

33. There will also be a B1 Chevron on display – a celebration of the manufacturer’s car that made its winning debut at Kirkistown 50 years ago.

34. The final display will be a fleet of Ford MK2 Ford Escorts, celebrating 40 years of the car synonymous with rallying in Northern Ireland.

35. Rally fans will be able to enjoy a special run-off of MK2 Ford Escorts.

36. The MK2 version of Ford’s hugely-successful Escort was launched in January 1975.

37. Alongside the competition, there are many other activities for visitors to enjoy.

38. Budding mechanics, navigators and engineers can visit the STEM Truck that will be on site.

39. Costumed visitor guides from the Folk Museum will play games on the lawn of the manor.

40. There will also be basket and linen weaving.

41. The Transport Museum will open its restoration buildings, giving the public a rare insight into where the team lovingly repair vintage motors for display.

42. As Ulster’s Motoring Garden Party, there will be a BBQ and ice-cream cart for visitors to enjoy throughout the day.